The Kibbie Dome is getting a makeover this fall, this time focusing on fan experience. The university will install a 30-foot by 50-foot video board on the east wall of the Kibbie Dome, moving the smaller board to the west wall.
The State Board of Education approved the $1.2 million project on May 15, with the athletic department’s share costing $787,321.
Athletic Department | Courtesy
This virtual rendering illustrates how the new video board will look. The Kibbie Dome will be outfitted with the new technology this summer.
“Not only will we be able to deliver the highest quality video of game action and replays, but our fans can join the fun with interactive promotions,” Athletic Director Rob Spear said.
The athletic department portion of the project will be paid for by sponsorships sold on the video board. The Idaho Potato Commission has purchased the main advertising portion of the board. Blue Cross of Idaho and Commercial Tire have purchased two side advertising panels, with the other two still available.
“We are excited about the partnerships we have developed, which enabled us to provide this dynamic addition to our game day experience and atmosphere,” Spear said.
The school teamed with a firm called Anthony James Partners, which provided expertise on the technology and specs. That technology will be a YESCO board with 1,500 square feet of video and 19-bit video processing ability.
Installation of the board will begin on June 10 and be completed in time for the home opener on Sept. 14 against Northern Illinois.
Spear said the cost of the project is relatively low because the wiring, wall re-enforcements and supporting technology in the Kibbie Dome had been previously installed.
The project also includes two portable 12-foot by 12-foot boards that will be purchased by University Support Services and rented out to events on campus and across the Northwest.
Spear said the hope is that basketball and the Cowan Spectrum can benefit from those portable boards, but there’s no guarantee.
“Those are three-way conversations we’d have to have with University Support Services and Learfield sports, our marketing arm,” Spear said.
However, the two scoreboards in the Cowan Spectrum will be replaced in the project.
It isn’t expected that the project should interrupt summer events at the Kibbie Dome or cause any major closures.
Sean Kramer can be reached at [email protected]
